Chapter 48: Better Scheme
Terrence and Winter finally left the rift, only the two of them. As they exited the portal, the waiting crowd gave them a mixture of deeply concerned and surprised looks.
Why were there only the two of them coming out?
Supporting Winter as they walked down the metallic steel pathway, Terrence couldn’t help but question everything that had just happened inside.
’How was that even possible? Gilbert just disappeared in a blinding flash of light. Does that mean technology like instant teleportation actually exists in this world? Or perhaps a beast’s skill?’
He shook his head in frustration, realizing how naive and immature he still was. There were so many advanced things in this world he didn’t even know were already possible.
Hell, why was he even questioning what was possible in the first place? Who was he to doubt strange phenomena when he literally possessed a System of his own that gave him random missions and absurd rewards?
He swallowed the bitter thought down.
The Guard rift officer rushed toward them, his eyes full of pressing questions. His brows were heavily furrowed at first, but the moment he saw Winter’s battered condition, deep concern instantly replaced his initial stern purpose.
"Young lady," the guard called out anxiously, stopping directly before the two of them. Terrence raised his head to meet his gaze. "What happened inside? Where are the rest of the squad members?"
Behind them, the dungeon rift started blinking rapidly, fading slowly into thin air—a clear sign that the dungeon boss had been cleared.
Everyone’s eyes among the onlookers grew even more curious, concerned, and filled with disbelief as a dark inkling surfaced within their minds.
They could only swallow the cold, harsh reality as each passing second without anyone else stepping through the fading rift confirmed the darker truth.
Winter raised her head as well, her cold, dead eyes falling onto the Guard rift officer’s face.
"Only us survived."
Then, nothing followed. The people who had been watching the rift, the vendors selling products outside, and the concerned local citizens all became frozen like statues at that news.
What did that mean?
It was an obvious question, and even though they all knew the tragic answer, they couldn’t bring themselves to let it fully sink in.
Terrence simply stayed silent, continuing to support Winter as they walked back toward the lifting platform. With her one trembling arm wrapped tightly around his shoulders, they strode forward at a slow, dragging pace.
"Aren’t you supposed to be sad?" Terrence asked quietly, finally breaking the heavy silence that had lingered between them since clearing the dungeon.
Winter shifted her cold gaze to her side, glancing at Terrence for a brief moment before adjusting her posture back toward their path ahead.
"Sad? Why should I be?" Winter replied, her voice trembling slightly. "That’s an insult to my contracted beast if I let myself be sad. I should be happy. Really happy that he died with honor while protecting me..."
Terrence nodded silently in understanding. They soon reached the lifting platform, clicked a few destination buttons, and slowly felt their bodies lifted upward. They reached the upper floor of the vertical city, and once again, a heavy silence enveloped them both.
Terrence was thinking constantly... even he didn’t fully know what his true questions were anymore. There were just too many of them weighing down on his mind. It felt suffocating.
’Such a twisted fate... why do I have to suffer through all this crazy fate nonsense?’
Even if he had desperately wished to become a powerful tamer before, he never expected that he would end up becoming someone’s primary target. He was being hunted by some shadow organization operating in the underground.
He wanted to be frustrated and vent his anger, but living in such negative emotions would only mean wasting precious time. He had to plan, scheme, and ruthlessly exploit every single advantage he currently possessed.
When they finally arrived back at the Lin Clan’s estate, he spotted Klein standing from a distance, waiting right outside the main gates.
It was already sunset. A warm, orange light kissed across their weary faces as the sun dipped beneath the skyline.
Terrence’s brows furrowed tightly the moment his eyes fell on him.
’Klein... just who the hell are you really...’
He remembered it clearly—Gilbert was already a key part of the Anti-Lee Scheme. Klein was the one who had brought Terrence right into this setup, which meant Klein almost certainly knew something about it.
However, confronting him right now would only alarm him, or even alert Jonas Lin about how much Terrence actually knew. If he confronted them blindly, he would only be stepping into another trap unprepared. He still didn’t fully understand their true motives.
Releasing a deep, heavy sigh, Terrence decided he needed to scheme even better than before. Now that he was dragged into this, he had to make his own hidden schemes far exceed theirs.
Without having many resources yet, he had to act like he didn’t know a single thing, silently plotting to put them all down the second they turned their blades against him.
Terrence already knew the ultimate answer to his survival. Now, he just had to carefully execute each step while planning ahead. Indeed, planning...
’Planning... how do I even properly start? It feels like I already know what I’m doing, but I’m still just blindly planning as I go...’
In truth, he didn’t fully know what his reality was turning into. But with the System rewards continuously boosting his power, he would silently collect strength, protect himself, and reach his goals no matter what.
’I should hasten building my beast shop and trigger more system missions. Since this System is all about Supplying Beasts, and missions trigger from time to time based on recent events around me, it means I can force more rewards if I just keep selling.’
"Hey, finally! You guys arrived... I have some good news," Klein greeted them with his usual warm smile as they approached, but the second he saw Winter’s bloody condition, his friendly expression completely shifted into shock. "Hey, what the hell happened to her?"
The two of them finally reached the massive gate, immediately notifying the family guards about their heiress’s critical state.
"Did you guys actually manage to clear the A-Rank Dungeon? Where’s Gilbert? And why are you looking so miserable, young lady?" Klein asked rapidly, his eyes darting between them.
Terrence let out another long sigh, hiding the burning suspicion in his chest.
"Long story short, everyone died inside the dungeon except the two of us."
Terrence had to lie. Gilbert had actually escaped alive using that mysterious light, but if Klein was secretly in on the plot with Gilbert, Terrence couldn’t let him know that he knew the truth just yet.